Prophecy - The End Times

[Nell]

Originally Posted by OBW

And it has been for 2,000 years.

But are we to read it as a challenge to understand, connecting dots like strands of DNA, then debating what the imagery literally means? Don't the plethora of writings on the details evidence enough that getting it right is not the point? Each has a different take on it.

But is finding a roadmap through the end times the point?

Or is it the reminder that it will touch us all in some way whether we are alive at that time, or have "fallen asleep" long before? A graphic reminder to never assume tomorrow?

Revelation 1:3 Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein: for the time is at hand.

This is a really simple verse. No need to overthink it, or become skeptical about His timeline. How ‘bout we just read, hear and keep, like the verses say? There is the blessing.

Meanwhile, ask him if he has something in mind for you to do. Do what he tells you. If he doesn’t have anything for you to do, live the life he has for you as best you know how. After all, it’s about Him. We don’t have to figure it out. But, we are charged with a task that comes with a blessing. I guess that’s ‘kinda what he does.

You don’t have to read the words of prophecy. Your call. Some of us are curious (me for one). Some are afraid and call these discussions “fear mongering” (not me). Regardless, this is a place for discussions, so that’s what we do, freely.

Nell

[OBW]

Originally Posted by Nell

This is a really simple verse. No need to overthink it, or become skeptical about His timeline. How ‘bout we just read, hear and keep, like the verses say? There is the blessing.

That seems to run contrary to all the discussion about who anyone thinks the beast is. Or talk about Illuminati. Or talk about uncertianties and assigning weights of probability to them. (Just a few examples from scanning quickly back through the thread and stopping randomly three or four times. I didn't need to cull out posts that didn't seem to be digging into solutions rather than "just reading."

I agree that just reading it is a good thing. And I never said otherwise.

And I was never skeptical about His timeline. Just our version of it.

[Nell]

Originally Posted by OBW

That seems to run contrary to all the discussion about who anyone thinks the beast is. Or talk about Illuminati. Or talk about uncertianties and assigning weights of probability to them. (Just a few examples from scanning quickly back through the thread and stopping randomly three or four times. I didn't need to cull out posts that didn't seem to be digging into solutions rather than "just reading."

I agree that just reading it is a good thing. And I never said otherwise.

And I was never skeptical about His timeline. Just our version of it.

Duly noted.

Nell

[Nell]

This week I found a movie on Fubo: Before the Wrath It's available other places. I've transcribed part of the opening comments below: (emphasis added)

It’s been 2000 years since the final prophecies were recorded, and today the foundation for the convergence of nearly every prophetic sign foretold and the remaining Biblical prophecies have never been more prominent. As a result, a recent rise in debate regarding the signs of the times has led to growing division regarding when the Messiah will return. After all, if the events prophesied within the ancient records are indeed to come to pass, then knowing the timing of the Lord’s return would be of great importance.

The timing is a real hot-button, especially among religious people, Christians and what the like. We love predictability. We want to know when He’s going to be coming back.

The conflict, the disagreement, the contention over the timing of the rapture, and particularly in the last ten years, has gone off the charts.

Instead of saying “my how they love one another” as they said of the early church, now today they say of the church, “my how they fight with one another”.

Recent findings from organizations, such as Lifeway Research, confirm that the infighting among Christians is deepening.

In one of our surveys we asked when they thought the rapture might occur:
36% (the largest group) though it might occur “pre-tribulation”.
4% believe it will happen in the middle (of the tribulation)
18% believe the rapture will happen at the end of the tribulation.
13% believe in “other views”, and
4% are “not sure”.
25% the remaining, a growing statistic, no longer believe in a literal rapture at all.

Why is this happening?

There is a sobering discussion around the 25%, in the church, who no longer believe in a literal rapture. At least I understood that the 25% were in the church. I could be wrong.

I really like this movie. It's well done and contains an interesting and different point of view. I couldn't find any deviation to scriptural truth. I'm watching it again...just in case!

Most of the movie covers (spoiler alert) a wedding in Galilee (not Canaan). I hope you find it somewhere and take a look.

Before the Wrath

Nell

[Ohio]

Originally Posted by Nell

This week I found a movie on Fubo: Before the Wrath It's available other places. I've transcribed part of the opening comments below: (emphasis added)

There is a sobering discussion around the 25%, in the church, who no longer believe in a literal rapture. At least I understood that the 25% were in the church. I could be wrong.

I really like this movie. It's well done and contains an interesting and different point of view. I couldn't find any deviation to scriptural truth. I'm watching it again...just in case!

Most of the movie covers (spoiler alert) a wedding in Galilee (not Canaan). I hope you find it somewhere and take a look.

Before the Wrath

Nell

Nell, I would love to discuss this topic further, but it might engender further conflicts on the forum. On my part, I will only post out of love and concern for the children of God.

For example, recently we joined a church with other family members, long-standing in their church. The Bible Study before Worship moved onto the Rapture and His 2nd Advent. Just asking questions about their Pre-Trib demands got us into trouble. Prior to this Bible Study, I had really not studied this topic since the mid-70's.

That recent study by Christianity Today was introduced, "1/3 of today's Pastors (36%) believe in Pre-Trib Rapture!" So I asked, "what about the other 2/3?" Later on I heard, "Don't worry! Nothing in Revelation applies to us, since we will all be gone!" So I asked, "what about the numerous martyrs in Revelation and v. 22.16?" The final words were mocking, "if you want to stick around for God's judgment, then have at it!" Privately I asked, "if I'm wrong, then no harm done, but if you're wrong, then so many will be ill-prepared for what may come." He answered, "that's a risk I'm willing to take."

They rejected further personal discussions, and basically applied Romans 16.17.

I'll try to find the movie. Thanks.

[Nell]

Originally Posted by Ohio

Nell, I would love to discuss this topic further, but it might engender further conflicts on the forum. On my part, I will only post out of love and concern for the children of God.

For example, recently we joined a church with other family members, long-standing in their church. The Bible Study before Worship moved onto the Rapture and His 2nd Advent. Just asking questions about their Pre-Trib demands got us into trouble. Prior to this Bible Study, I had really not studied this topic since the mid-70's.

That recent study by Christianity Today was introduced, "1/3 of today's Pastors (36%) believe in Pre-Trib Rapture!" So I asked, "what about the other 2/3?" Later on I heard, "Don't worry! Nothing in Revelation applies to us, since we will all be gone!" So I asked, "what about the numerous martyrs in Revelation and v. 22.16?" The final words were mocking, "if you want to stick around for God's judgment, then have at it!" Privately I asked, "if I'm wrong, then no harm done, but if you're wrong, then so many will be ill-prepared for what may come." He answered, "that's a risk I'm willing to take."

They rejected further personal discussions, and basically applied Romans 16.17.

I'll try to find the movie. Thanks.

Thanks Ohio. Posting with love and concern for the bretheren is all we ask of our poster children on the forum. Feel free to discuss.

I hope you can find "Before the Wrath". It's different from any movie I've seen on the end times--it's much more than that. It tells a beautiful story set in the culture of Gallilea.

Nell

[Nell]

"Before our story can begin, we need to first understand that Jesus wasn’t simply a Jew. Specifically, He was a Galilean. Not only that, Jesus’ disciples were all Galileans as well. They were Galileans from just about every walk of life. A fisherman, a tax collector, Jesus assembled these together. There is a great reason why. They would be spoken to (by Jesus) in the Galilean vernacular. Even though the region shared the same culture, the Galileans developed customs that were unique only to them.

Why is this important? Because Jesus used people’s cultures to more deeply communicate the spiritual nature of God. He used words and symbols and analogies and parables for them to understand.

You see the Sermon on the Mount. Speaking to them in ways they can understand. He is speaking to them about being fishers of men. Why would you use that analogy unless you knew these were fishermen?

Everything he said was based on the life he lived, the culture he belonged to.

I love this! Everything he said was based on the life he lived, the culture he belonged to. Why?

When he talks to me, he talks to me where I am, in the life I live...what matters to me...whatever is going on in my life is important to him.

Nell

[Ohio]

Originally Posted by Nell

Thanks Ohio. Posting with love and concern for the bretheren is all we ask of our poster children on the forum. Feel free to discuss.

I hope you can find "Before the Wrath". It's different from any movie I've seen on the end times--it's much more than that. It tells a beautiful story set in the culture of Gallilea.

Nell

I did find this video "Before the Wrath" and there are many things I liked about what was presented. There was enough there that it demands a second viewing, and maybe a third.

Can you believe that those folks would actually prepare for a wedding in that manner? Only God's miraculous behind-the-scenes sovereignty could enable such a custom to develop over time, with the definite goal of presenting future events, the marriage of His First Born. Pretty incredible, eh?

It's kind of similar to God demanding Abraham to sacrifice his long-promised son Isaac on Mount Moriah. That old Genesis story by itself borders on the absurd, like some incredulous myth, or perhaps by a deranged imagination, u_n_l_e_s_s . . .

God desired to give us an actual real life story of faith to help us understand His incredible love for His own Son, and how one day He would allow His Son to be horribly slain on a cross for our sins. "God so loved the world ..."

[Ohio]

Originally Posted by Nell

You don’t have to read the words of prophecy. Your call. Some of us are curious (me for one). Some are afraid and call these discussions “fear mongering” (not me). Regardless, this is a place for discussions, so that’s what we do, freely.

Nell

“You may be right, he may be crazy.”